Adam Walls of 919 Security Self Defense Blog has some good posts on security for the home, including fake 
cameras. Read them here:
Nanny Cams Are A Must For Child Safety Surveillance On Your Home From Anywhere In The World Dummy Cameras Provide Just As Much Security
Tags: Security, Self-Defense, Surveillance
Hock Hochheim will no longer publish CQC Magazine - and I had just "discovered" it a year or so ago! Anyway, he gives details:
You know, the times have changed so. When I started the idea for the magazine in 2001, the world was not so close, so flash-fast and
broadband blitzed. The internet was not so fast and furious. News on any subject was not a flash screen away. Searches are a breeze now on any subject now. A breeze. Tons of short videos, hundreds of thousands of them, are free at your fingertips in almost seconds. A viewer could be hypnotized for weeks on end by the free martial clips.
Its a two-fang, fandango. One fang, the service of CQC Magazine is no longer needed and we no longer have the time to work on it. Two, with all these internet advancements for the reader, I no longer need or care to amass the information, dig the research, organize the collection, sweat through the sorting, push the rendering, and ramrod the publication. We have been replaced by the search engines at your fingertips. Frankly, a great sense of relief has fallen over us.
That's cool. It's an adaptation to changes in the medium he attempted to publish and promote it on. He does say, as a consolation, "Actually this blog page will start to look more and more like CQC Magazine as the weeks and months go by. Consider this blog as the CQC Magazine incarnate." So read Hock's blog, and look for my long-promised interview with him at some point in the future.
Before hordes of BJJ and Army MACP proponents come knocking on my door looking to roll, let me caution you that I write this from the perspective of someone who is not a grappler, but an interested party - interested in seeing whether it's effective for street combat, or can get you hurt. I have no intention of competing in tournaments or other mixed competitions, but I do want to make sure my students and I survive for as long as possible. We have previously posted on the controversy of whether it's even appropriate to build a grappling mentality and muscle memory for soldiers that may will have to use this on the battlefield. That said, I am beginning a series on what seems to work and not work for us, and why. It may work for you, but your skill levels and goals may be different. So stay tuned for more. I will ask my boys here to comment and post as well, and will update these posts. First of all, we are using two sources of training material: the U.S. Army FM 3-25.150 (FM 21-150) manual and a video entitled MACPModernArmyCombativesProgram.wmv. They are, at this point the only source of information. I will rely on our readers to post in Comments your opinions and corrections. You may also email them to me, but keep in mind I may edit and post them unless you instruct otherwise. So here we go. Initial critique of the manual - you can't always tell who the uke and tori are due to both being in the same pattern BDU/camo. The Marine Corps at least had desert and forest to differentiate by shade, so it was a little easier. Also, more reasons could be given for a particular variant or detail could be given. Otherwise, the written documentation of each technique is very good.
What we have learned so far:
Check back to this post (and the rest in the series). I add links to video or still photos of most of the techniques - even the ones we have a problem with (from a practical perspective).
This excellent essay, "Against the Fighting Stance," is in complete agreement with my strategy (maybe that's why I like it so much) for a non-confrontational, non-telegraphing stance. I employ both tactics mentioned the second before the first (do a search through the blog), depending on the apparent severity of the situation. It's very well-written, and descriptive. Please read it all. Excerpts:
Adopting a fighting stance is a clear intention that violence is on the way. Not only does it tell you attacker that you are ready to fight (killing the element of surprise), it tells everyone around you as well, which may put you on shaking legal ground should you try an claim self defence in a court of law. A lesser worry, but one you should keep in mind, is that many fighting stances provide clues as to common attacks that a experienced fighter may pick up on. Many arts have characteristic stances that are easily recognized by even amateur martial arts enthusiasts. A wrestling stance is quite unique, as is a standard karate stance. The square Wing Chun stance is easily recognizable as is the small phasic bent knee stance of Jeet Kune Do. And while an attacker may not be able to pick up exactly what style you have experience with he will probably be able to grasp things like: grappler or striker, quick, outside fighter or solid, inside fighter. Remember the common street thug is likely to have been around the block a time or two and is an experienced fighter. Considering this one would be well rewarded to consider some alternatives.
The best alternatives are neutral, no-aggressive stances that lend themselves to quick action. The stances should be conducive to relaxation and should appear casual. You want you stance to say "Hey buddy, I am not looking for trouble". Two of the best alternatives are outlined below.
The Fence
The term the fence was coined by Geoff Thompson an excellent self defence instructor out of England. The fence is very similar to an old time boxing stance. The arms are partially extended, just below head level. The palms face outward in a gesture of appeasement. As its name implies. the fence acts as a physical barrier between you and a would be assailant. It lends itself well to de-escalation, yet also allows for rapid deployment of any techniques. It is also a position which takes advantage of the flinch response should you be surprised. The common flinch response while in the fence stance is to drop your center of gravity while raising your arms to head level. This intercepts blows to the head quite nicely.
The "Jack Benny"
I first heard this stance called the Jack Benny stance on an internet forum I frequent and I liked it, so it stuck, it is called the thoughtful stance. The Jack Benny resembles Rodan's "Thinker" while standing. One hand is by the chin and the other rests on the elbow of the first. The high hand protects the head and neck, and the low hand protects the solar plexus and other low targets such as the groin. This stance takes advantage of the other common flinch response. In this flinch, the high hand's elbow comes perpendicular to the body, while the forearm covers along the head. The free hand often comes up to cover the front of the face. In this stance it is important to remember that the arms do not cross the low hand cups the elbow of the high hand.
Of the two stances, I prefer the Fence. I feel it allows for more aggressive action than the Jack Benny posture. I also like the physical barrier it presents. However, the Jack Benny is by far the more deceptive pose. Practice from both and see which one feels best for you. The main thing is to remember that self defence is not sport fighting, where two people consent to fight each other. It is not even the old time death matches you always here of Master Soandso winning hundreds of. Keep your goals in mind when you train and train using realistic scenarios. Practice being ambushed with your hands down, practice being "Interviewed" while in the Fence or Jack Benny postures. Above all, keep it simple and realistic.
Tags: Fighting, Self-Defense
Tags: MMA, Fighting, Training, Nick Diaz, UFC
Triathlon is part of training for fighter
By Mark GodiNick Diaz had a different reason for competing in the Live Well, Be Well Triathlon in Copperopolis on Sunday than most.
Diaz, 22, from Stockton, is known in the mixed martial arts world as one of the sport’s top up-and-coming welterweight fighters. This weekend, he continued his unorthodox training regimen by competing in the 600-yard swim, 18-mile bike, and 3.1 mile run at Lake Tulloch Resort.
A Tokay High graduate, Diaz first burst onto the competitive scene at age 17, when he upset Ultimate Fighting Championship legend and Cage Rage International Champion Chris Lytle. Now with a 12-6 record as a professional, Diaz has looked to the venture of triathlon for about the last year as a means of fight preparation.
“I don’t train like the normal fighter trains,” said Diaz, who has trained with Calaveras-raised fighter Jake Shields. “Not a lot of fighters are into endurance workouts like me. They lift weights and try to get strong, or will do a lot of sprints.”
Focusing on his stamina, Diaz likes the idea that his training is healthier than some of the regimens that his fellow martial artists employ. “By the time I’m 40, I’m going to be in a lot better shape than some of these other guys,” Diaz said. “A lot of guys finish fights and are all broken down afterwards. This (triathlons) has really helped me avoid that.”
Gotta head home for dinner and teach my kids the roundhouse kick and wedge block tonight, so I'm outta here!
not, you risk breaking the bones on the back of your hand on the curved or pointed surface of the skull. In other words it takes skill and tons of practice. Plus, as with any punch, if you hit hard enough on a hard surface you will hurt or maim your hands, and we know what that can mean when there're no rules and no referee.I shared this recently with George Ruiz of Le Blog, prompted by his visit to a massive comic convention, and thought it worth sharing with you. In no particular order:
I saw this on a nice blog called, On Patrol, and had to reprint it. Very entertaining blog by a retired teacher and auxiliary police officer. Check him out.
Adapted from USMC & USN RULES OF GUNFIGHTING
Read this. Lots of good citizens worked together to put these scumbags* where they belong.
*CORRECTION: I meant misunderstood products of their environment, of course.
Check out this page of wrestling techniques. Excellent resource. Added to Links. Enjoy!- NDT
Read "Attempted robbery of off-duty Oakland police sergeant thwarted." Remember that even if you give in to a mugger or rapist, you may still be killed. You have to decide for yourself whether you should resist. However, in NO case should you allow yourself to be removed to a more remote location - if you do, you're probably going to die. Think about it...
In any engagement, there is always a point at which the lead-off fighter makes a decision as to what he will do, takes aim, then fires. For example, I may appraise from my opponent's stance that he has his weight planted to punch, and is getting ready, so I decide to interrupt his feeble attempt at a tactic by tossing him a good leg-kick and ruin his plan.
If you watch carefully, you can actually see that thought process occurring - watch for a tension to develop, similar to a cat about to pounce. You may even see your opponent look at the target briefly, and then you may see him about to shift weight one way or the other in preparation.
My training partners may think I have good speed, but I don't think so. I am a good counter-fighter because I see that "set point" in my partner, then read it pretty well. I then counter to where I believe their lead-off technique will leave an opening. Most of the times I am right.
Another way to deal with the oppenent when he is "set" is to just take a little step to your right or left. Try it. We have a drill where one fighter is the lead-off fighter, and the other fighter will take that small step every time he detects the set point. It's always frustrating for the lead-off fighter to learn that he can't carry through his plan over and over because the counter fighter isn't where he's aimed. Try it.
Back to work...
To avoid the confusion that Teodoro Defensive Arts is a school or association (we're not), or that we're trying to sell something (we aren't), I've decided to rename the blog TDA Training. It matches the URL, and puts the focus on what we're about - martial arts training. It's all about the punching, kicking, striking, blocking, grappling, and submitting, not the name. Thanks again for reading. Get back to work!
Courtesy Dan Severn, Sam and Mike demonstrate a basic double-leg takedown
Eye up your opponent and show him you're about to do some martial arts on him by assuming a stance!
Close the gap with a jab or front thrust.
Go for the takedown - commit, but make sure you guard against the knee on the way in.
Drive your shoulder into his stomach, wrap his legs at the knees, and drive!
Continue to drive him into the deck!Brad Parker of DefendU answers this question:
"I've heard a well respected video producer say that it's the little guy that you should watch out for -- they are more dangerous than big guys because they have to be. He says "Big guys too often rely on their instant 
respect and do not learn to handle situations properly and efficiently. Label it with whatever you like...lazy, comfortable, inattentive." What do you think?"
I like Brad's answer, and I would just add the following:
Finally, I have seen plenty of situations where size advantages have been nullified or overcome by the ferocity and tenacity (heart) of a smaller fighter, or his skill on the ground. But, as Brad says, "All things being equal, the bigger guy is going to win." Good night.
Read this one! Nice job by the batter...
CLEARFIELD, Utah (AP) -- A Sunset man's attempt at breaking into a home ended after the
home owner beat the intruder on the head with a baseball bat as he climbed through a window.
The home owner used a Louisville Slugger, with the words "are you feeling lucky," written on it, said Assistant Clearfield Police Chief Greg Krusi.
The beating sent the intruder to Davis Hospital and Medical Center in Layton with head injuries, Krusi said.
There's more. He was apparently a registered sex offender, drunk, and had a hatchet. Not his lucky day, eh?
Many have commented on how MMA has caught fire in the U.S., finally. This Washington Times article, "Fierce foe for boxing," is the best I have read on the state of boxing in contrast to MMA, and the reasons why. My hope is that boxing will get its act together in response, or be relegated (even more than now) to the backwaters of public opinion as a sport. Excerpts:
What's the live audience like for UFC in Vegas, versus boxing?It is 5 p.m. on a Saturday at Mandalay Bay Events Center, where the doors have just opened for the first bout of a fight show. It is one of several fights that will take place hours before the pay-per-view battles start.
Typically, there are more people working in the arena than watching the first fight of a boxing card.
"You can usually hear a pin drop," said Marc Ratner, the former executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
Not tonight. This night there is a crowd waiting for the doors to open, and there are about 6,000 people already in the arena when Kurt Pellegrino takes on Drew Ficket in a welterweight bout.
But then, this isn't a boxing show.
It's an Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts event, and the sport that blends boxing, kick boxing, wrestling and jujitsu is all the rage in Las Vegas.
In May, Staples Center in Los Angeles was sold out for UFC 60. The month before, the Arrowhead Pond arena in Anaheim was sold out for UFC 59.
Contrast that with Saturday night's boxing pay-per-view show at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, considered to be the center of the boxing universe.
Two of boxing's biggest stars, Shane Mosley and Fernando Vargas, fought in a rematch. There were thousands of empty seats, and most likely a portion of the 9,800 fans who did show up received complimentary tickets.
More...
That sound you hear in Las Vegas is not a pin dropping, but knees knocking -- the knees of those in the boxing business who see their sport being pummeled by Ultimate Fighting Championship, the most prominent of the various mixed martial arts promotions in America.
Most boxing promoters don't want to even acknowledge the existence of Ultimate Fighting Championship. Bob Arum at Top Rank did not respond to questions about it, and a representative of Kathy Duva at Main Events said the firm won't discuss it.
Promoter Gary Shaw, however, is willing to address what he believes should be a wake-up call for boxing, else it turns into a requiem for the sport.
"I think UFC is the up-and-coming wave and poses tremendous competition to boxing," Shaw said. "It has been creeping up on boxing without boxing being aware of it. They are getting the younger fans, and our fans are getting older and older..."
Read the rest.
UPDATE:
Nice article on UFC fighters visit to Marines at Camp Pendleton.
I have been blessed with a muscular build, and excellent flexibility. When I was a kid, I could put both legs 
behind my head and totter around on my hands. I always admired the flexibility of gymnasts and ballet athletes because it was useful flexibility. Later, when I was exposed to martial arts, I started doing my favorite kick, the side kick, and wanted to be able to kick straight up in the air. I was able to do everything I wanted to do over time, and what helped me was working the techniques, but also doing so in a way that maintained my flexibility. I say that because I never really had to work very hard at it, so I am not the best giver of advice on flexibility. A picture of me circa 1991 or so should demonstrate it.
This article, on the other hand, seems very good, and can help you achieve the flexibility you desire. Please look it over. Another good resource is Superfoot Bill Wallace's materials. More later...
Very educational. This story illustrates quite a few points for me:
If the victim didn't have a concealed handgun, would he be alive today? Did he do the right thing? What could/should he have done differently. Read the story here, then comment. I will reply.
Thanks to my brother for bringing this to our attention.
Stephan Kesting's excellent grappling site, GrappleArts.com, features excellent free instructional articles, as well as books, video, and other media for sale. Kesting and Denis Kang's article on Passing the Guard in MMA gives you all the basics. Some excerpts:
Denis Kang knows all about passing the guard in mixed martial arts competition. He has fought in Japan and throughout North America, and has passed the guards of many good fighters, including Minoru Suzuki, Keith Rockel and Stephan Potvin. He knows that passing the guard is one of the hardest things to do in a fight, but also that it is one of the most important skills to master.
Almost all No Holds Barred matches have one or both fighters using their guards at some point. If you end up in your opponent’s guard he has 5 basic strategies, the so-called ‘5 S options' of guardwork:
Does your fight strategy include responses to all five scenarios? One of the best things you can do to negate his options is to improve your position by passing his guard. Once you have passed his guard he is far less dangerous to you and it is much easier for you to administer punishment and/or hunt for a submission.
Read the rest here.
NYT- "An off-duty police officer driving home from work in the Bronx early yesterday shot a man in the face when the man tried to steal his car at gunpoint, the police said. The man ran, but was captured several minutes later, according to the police."
Hmmm. Makes 'em easier to identify that way, eh? I think it's better to just buy your own car, eh?
309-pound prospect Reuben de Jong, who also competes in strongman contests, earning the title of New Zealand's strongest man. de Jong recently lost his first K-1 bout, but wants to compete overseas in MMA because, "I can use my strength more to my advantage. K-1 is more suited to faster, more technical guys."We'll see. I think he may find that speed and technique are just as important in MMA. From what I can tell, good conditioning and a good chin are also key factors. Over the years many huge men have tried the fight game, from Primo Carnera in the old days, and now Bob Sapp and Nikolay Valuev. What usually happens is that they lose. MMA may be different from boxing, but unless someone gears his training entirely to his sport, he will plateau. It'll be interesting...
In addition to the leg check, the cut kick, the push kick, and blocking, there's another way I call the "scoot." Watch the beginning of the video as I make my opponent (in the grey shirt) miss by sliding back with both feet to get my legs out of the way while staying in range. You can then counter with either leg, or jump in with hands or a takedown.
BTW, I apologize for any quality problems in the video - they're all from sparring tape, not choreographed. The angles and quality would be better if planned and staged beforehand, but they lose the realism.
Too often, when I see people drill a "complex" skill, I see the following:
What was missing? The block! What's missing is that before you do step two, you've got to do step one, and stop the original attack. Everything else depends upon it. Remember this in drills, that the "good stuff" is just icing on the cake. Get the block/parry/slip/duck/jam, THEN perform the pretty part.
Have a great day. Back to work!
919 Security Self Defense Blog is pretty nice. It's focused (so far) on home safety and self-defense tips, and links to his company's site (self-defense products). Check it out.
George Ruiz is an exponent of the French art of Savate, and publisher of Le Blog. I asked him to share a little about Savate with us. If you have questions, please post them in the Comments, and I'll ask George to reply in the same manner.
George H. Ruiz is Vice-President of Business Affairs for International Creative Management, and works with ICM’s agents in negotiating talent, directing, producing and literary deals with major studios, distributors and independent production companies. He was formerly a Senior Attorney for Paramount Pictures where he served as production counsel on over a dozen motion pictures, including Face/Off, Clueless, and several movies in the Star Trek franchise. Mr. Ruiz began his legal career at the Walt Disney Company. He is also an avid martial artist with a background in Tae Kwon Do, Kenpo, boxing, Muay Thai and competes in the kickboxing sport of Savate / Boxe-Francaise where he is ranked as a White Glove. Mr. Ruiz has served as the Treasurer of the United States Savate Federation.
TDA: Mr. Ruiz, welcome to Teodoro Defensive Arts, and thanks for yo
ur time.
GR: Thank you Nathan, it’s a pleasure. I’m an avid reader of your blog and I appreciate the opportunity to talk to your readers about Savate and the California Savate Association.
TDA: First of all, you are a “Savateur?” What does that mean?
GR: Simply, one who practices the fighting art of Savate.
TDA: What is Savate?
GR: Savate is the French fighting method that combines western boxing with kicking techniques from eastern martial arts. It is an elegant form of kickboxing that emphasizes speed, ring movement and striking combinations.
TDA: Is it considered a sport or fighting/martial art?
GR: Straight up martial art. Savate’s origins come from 19th century Parisian street fighting techniques and the kicks learned by French sailors from their voyages to Asia. It has been an effective form of self-defense for over 200 years. Some people distinguish the more fighting oriented aspects of this art by calling it Savate and calling the ring sport version “Boxe-Francaise”. Savate, as a comprehensive style, contains grappling, knife and cane fighting techniques. However, we in California focus on and primarily train in the kickboxing elements of Savate.
TDA: Does it have a martial (military use) history?
GR: Yes. It was the official martial art of France throughout most of the 19th and the early part of the 20th century, taught and practiced by the military and all levels of French society. Unfortunately, the majority of soldier-savateurs were killed during the terrible battles of World War 1 that claimed the lives of millions. Many of the surviving practitioners were later killed in WWII. The art almost perished because of war.
TDA: What got you involved in Savate in the first place?
GR: I got into it completely by accident. I had been training in boxing and Muay Thai at a gym called Boxing Works in Hermosa Beach, California. My regular kickboxing trainer happened to be Brad Pitt and Hugo Weaving’s stunt double and was off shooting a movie. So, this cool French guy, Michael Giordani and a lithe young woman named Mary Frances Person, stepped in to take his place. They were Savateurs. They had just returned from fighting for Team USA in the 2000 Assaut (light-contact) World Cup and they were eager to recruit more Savate fighters. Training with them taught me better ring movement, footwork, combinations and double and triple kick combos. Also, unlike much of the kickboxing classes I had attended, Savate training had lots of continuous sparring with little to no breaks. After half an hour of pad drills, we’d do 5 rounds of boxing then do another 5 rounds of kickboxing. I quickly became a much better fighter. After 2 or 3 months of this Michael and Mary Frances thought I looked ready and asked me to fight in a light contact Savate tournament. I declined.
“I’m a lawyer, not a fighter.” I joked, but promised to give it some thought. I went home and asked myself why I was training in the first place. Well, my dad was a Kenpo practitioner, but that wasn’t why. I loved Bruce Lee movies as a kid, but that certainly wasn’t it. Ultimately, I decided that I was training because I wanted to be able to fight and defend myself – not just work out and lose weight. I needed to test myself. So the following week I agreed to participate. A month later I found myself fighting in my first tournament.
I lost.
I was bruised, limping and sore for a week. However, it was the most exciting 8 minutes of my life (three 2 minute rounds, with one minute breaks). I had proven to myself that I could hold my own in the ring. My nervousness and ring inexperience played a part in my loss, but I knew that I needed a lot more training. I signed up for even more Savate lessons, lost 30 pounds and went on to win my next four fights. Much of that came from the inspiration I received from Mary Frances Person, Michael Giordani and former Savate French Champion, Nicolas Saignac. I still train with them today.
TDA: Savate doesn’t seem to get a lot of press in the US. Is that different in Europe, outside of France or Belgium?
GR: Savate is actually quite popular in Australia and Canada. Also, Germany and Italy have strong World Cup teams and quite a few practitioners. Accordingly, Savate in those countries receives more press coverage. In the U.S. it seems that the press follows the fighting sports that generate the most income. Currently that’s mixed martial arts and boxing. Also, it doesn’t help that Savate, while growing rapidly in the U.S., is still relatively unknown. Still, recent success by U.S. Savateurs in the 2002 and 2004 Assaut World Cup and the 2005 Combat (full contact) World Championship has led to a few articles in the mainstream martial arts press. With the California Savate Association’s website and our daily blog (Le Blog), we hope to change bring more attention to our art.
TDA: Savate seems to have a different approach to kicking than some of the Eastern martial arts. Would you please describe the type of force that Savate kicks generate?
GR: Savate kicks have their genesis in Eastern arts. A well delivered Savate fouette delivers the same amount of force as a Tae Kwon Do or Muay Thai round house. It’s just that the force in a Savate kick is delivered in a more concentrated way.
In Savate you are trained to fight in shoes (steel-tipped in the old days) so you are striking with the point, flat or top of the shoe, depending on the kick. Shin strikes are not part of the art so your kicking distance is also different (e.g., you’re not fighting as close as you would in Muay Thai). Thus, a Muay Thai kick that strikes an opponent with the shin does more blunt force damage over a larger surface area than a Savate fouette which strikes with the point of a hard tipped shoe. The same amount of force is generated but is now delivered with more focus into a smaller area and it’s quite devastating. I’ve been hit with both, and it’s true when they say that it’s like comparing being hit in the ribs with a bat and being hit there with a hammer. Both really hurt and can incapacitate, just in different ways.
TDA: Do they seem easier or harder to defend than, say, TKD kicks?
GR: Savate has a well earned reputation for fast, multiple and spinning kicks, but the answer always depends on the skill level of the person delivering the kick. It’s not the martial art so much as it’s the martial artist.
TDA: Is there a grappling component to Savate?
Yes, but I’m not familiar with its specifics. I understand that Salem Assli from the Inosanto Academy trains in Savate grappling.
TDA: Please tell us a little about the California Savate Association.
GR: It was started in the mid 1980’s by American Savate pioneers Daniel Duby and Salem Assli to foster and train people in Savate and Boxe-Francaise. We continue that mission today by holding seminars, tournaments and creating college programs. We spread the word through the internet and by traveling to other states to compete and train others in Savate. The CSA is run by a collective of active Savateurs and instructors, who are passionate about this French martial art. We love it.
Do you remember hearing in the last couple of years about a Martial Arts Channel on cable? They've gone straight to the Web, instead. Go to http://www.macexperience.com/ to check it out. Let me know what you think. I will add it to our Links on the sidebar.
Secret Advantage Self Defense Lipstick Pepper Spray
Concealed Pepper Spray With UV Marker In Quality Lipstick Case!
We have seen a lot of self defense sprays come and go over thirty years but NOTHING like this! It looks exactly like a lipstick. This stunningly attractive lipstick case is sure to deceive. Just pull the cap off and spray away. If your attacker is male he's at a big disadvantage if you've got one of these on you. Just pretend you need to touch up to look your best and POW! Let him have it in the eyes. The 10% concentration of 1MM SHU pepper spray will have him forget about attacking you and trying to find some relief for his pain. Contains about 20 (half-second) sprays with a range of 10 feet.
Hat-tip to CNET News.com.
Uh, me neither, but you've got to read this account of a female MMA fighter's debut bout. It's really interesting.
Training this weekend was pretty good. We have a great addition to our group, Daniel, a MCMAP Black Belt Instructor Trainer who's joined us, and is gung ho to train. We've been catching him up on some techniques that aren't a part of the Corps' training (mostly so he can defend them), and he's been giving us some finer points that they've hammered out in their program over the last eight or nine years.
I have a sore and kinked neck, and feel like I have a bruised rib. I was demonstrating Thai clinch defenses this Saturday, and as soon as Mike yanked on it, I was yelped in pain and had to bow out of the rest of the training. It's been in pain since last weekend (July 1).
In order to combat my being so out of shape and flabby, I've committed to sparring 12 consecutive rounds by the end of September. This will be considerably more than I've done in the past ten or twelve years. I think the most I've ever done was ten, so this will be quite a challenge. I weigh in at about 225 pounds now, and want to get to about 185, so this will help. Wish me luck!
Not much needs to be said about Superfoot Wallace, except that he's the only man to kick me in the head 68 times in a row and live! Seriously, he's a great guy, and an innovator in the martial arts. If you get a chance to attend one of his seminars, don't miss it, though you'll feel it for weeks afterward! Check his site out.
We now have FeedBlitz email subscriptions up. You will receive a brief digest of current posts with direct links to the blog posts.
Within 48 hours of new subscriptions (unless you make your address anonymous), we will forward five free instructional articles. They will be zipped, and in MS Word format. They contain photos, and cannot be resold or republished without permission, but can be copied for use with your school or fellow students. If you'd like the articles, but are using RSS or just want 'em, just send us an email and we'll forward 'em anyway. Easy, huh?
Thanks for reading TDA!
There is an old debate within the martial arts community as to whether one should learn a few techniques or many. The argument usually goes like this, "We should learn a few techniques well, rather than many that we will never use." Or, "If I learn too many, when confronted by a stressful situation, I'll freeze because of too many choices (a different subject)!" They have a point. And yet, some styles have upwards of 300 or 400 techniques just to 1st Dan! Why?One of my greatest regrets in life, especially as I go through a workday, or as I create this post, is that I never took typing in school. I walked by the typing classroom, took one look at the rows of students poking at the keys and decided it wasn't for me - it looked too boring and geeky! Now, here I am a a decade or so (OK, over twenty) later, and I am sitting at a keyboard poking away with only three or four fingers on each hand, instead of all five, and I work in the IT field, so what could be geekier than that???
I understand that the average adult can type 40-60 words per minute. That 
means that the average person can think of, or transcribe words, sentences, and paragraphs containing sequences of 26 works, then add in the capitalization, punctuation, special characters, and now computer keyboard function keys and hot keys! Literally hundreds of keystrokes go into making each document or email into a recognizable form of communication. Then there are the expert typists at over 100 WPM! These expert (black belt) typists can work under stress and perform with few errors, if trained properly.
Many years ago, I heard or read that we should teach sparring like writing. Techniques are the letters, combination the sentences (complete thoughts), and tactics and strategy are the paragraphs. It seems to me, that we can learn a lot of techniques, if we're willing to put in the time. Do I recommend this? No. I teach a combination of things I've learned from many systems and styles, boxing, TKD, Jujitsu, various styles of Karate, Wing Chun, Muay Thai, Aikido, etc. What makes them work is the context. I teach them from a basis of standup striking, and have found that each student will naturally pick techniques that he finds work for him. Our job as instructors is to open the minds of students to try something new, then guide him or her in how to use it.
Long ago, I rejected miy tpying teacher, so I hope you don't make the same mistake in the martial arts.
It looks like Mike DePasquale, Jr. is starting a new venture called KIMAWN
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Karate International Magazine was a huge success for over 13 years in the martial arts community. The publication was top-notch and focused on martial artists first and foremost. With innovative ideas and a dedication to "local" martial artist Karate International was a fan favorite the world over!
MAWN was the first online community EVER! Over 15 years ago AOL in its early days contacted Michael DePasquale, Jr. and asked him to "test" the waters of the internet world with the first ever online community! This website was definitely a trail blazer with many features and benefits not found in any such community even today (some 15 years later)!
Now an incredbile event has taken place and these two awesome resources have combined to form the worlds largest and most feature rich online community!
The community will be opening soon, but already some of the features are starting to trickle out into the martial arts community. One such feature is MAIN, the Martial Arts International NEWS which is a totally FREE way for people to submit and receive newsworthy items related to the martial arts community worldwide!
I was a pretty avid reader of Karate International, and have met Master 
DePasquale a couple of times (pictured), and was honored to have met and learned from his venerable father, Grandmaster DePasquale, Sr. on one brief occasion. With that in mind, I have no doubt that this will be a successful endeavor and will enrich the martial arts community with knowledge in a fraternal spirit of cooperation and respect. There is an initial signup here.
UPDATE - I spoke with Mike DePasquale earlier this evening. He's pretty excited about this, and will provide more details shortly. Stay tuned!
National Geographic Channel Examines The Science Of Martial Arts In FIGHT SCIENCE
World Champion Martial Arts Masters Meet Cutting-Edge Technology To Test the Most Complex Weapon on Earth - the Human Body
National Geographic Channel′s Fight Science Builds Extraordinary Studio-Laboratory to Measure and Map the Impact, Range, Speed and Force of Martial Arts Moves
It strikes four times faster than a snake. It kicks with more than 1,000 pounds of force. And it can rival the impact of a 35 mph car crash. It′s the most complex weapon ever designed - the human body.
Now, the National Geographic Channel (NGC) brings together a dream team of scientists, motion-capture specialists and CGI animators, along with a cross-section of champion martial arts masters, to analyze the world′s greatest fight techniques. The tests are designed to separate fighting fact from martial arts myth and provide unprecedented insight into their astounding strengths and capabilities. The results will be presented in the two-hour world premiere special FIGHT SCIENCE, Sunday, August 20, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
For the first time, FIGHT SCIENCE brings together members of the crash-test industry, the sports biomechanics industry and the Hollywood animation industry - applying their combined expertise and technology to a diverse range of martial arts techniques, including karate, kung fu, jiu jitsu, tae kwon do, muay Thai and wushu, among others. The results reveal the comparative strengths, advantages and limitations of the various martial arts styles. And in a breakthrough combination of technologies, scientists are able to peer inside a fighter′s body in real time.
FIGHT SCIENCE tests and films world-renowned martial artists, hand-picked to represent various disciplines, in a custom-built combination dojo (a school for training in the various arts of self-defense), high-tech lab and film studio that took over a year to design and build. Are the legends true? Is there such a thing as a death punch? How much force does each fighter exert? With 32 infrared motion capture cameras, three high-definition cameras and three ultra-high-speed cameras, the studio allows the crash test and biomechanics scientists to measure and map the speed, force, range and impact of muscles and bones in the fighters′ bodies.
The motion-capture technique, requiring reflective markers over the fighters′ entire bodies, allows for sophisticated real-time three-dimensional models (seen in films like KING KONG, LORD OF THE RINGS, and THE POLAR EXPRESS). These results are combined with other data to create separate sophisticated animations of the fighters′ bones, muscles and nerves. Fight Science juxtaposes the fighters′ movements with their animated selves for unprecedented insight into exactly how the body generates each move.
Great BoxingScene.com article by Dr. Peter Edwards, on what ails the once proud sweet science. If you're a fan of MMA or boxing (or both, like me), then you want to read this article.
Some good points:
His prescription, "There needs to be a major overhaul of the sport. Some higher power needs to take over and regulate the industry by eliminating most of the titles in each weight class, force fighters to compete at least three times per year, eliminate most pay-per-view events and even eliminate some of the weight classes to force more competitive fights, rather than have fighters hiding from each other with 4 pounds between them."
Makes sense to me. I grew up watching Ali, Larry Holmes, Ken Norton, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Tommy Hearns, etc. - all on free TV. I hope boxing will come back, because when it's on, there's nothing sweeter.
I have scoured the hits from my site meter to come up with a mixture of the most popular individual posts, and some that I think should be. They are compiled as the "Best of TDA Training" on the sidebar. Please look them over. I read all comments, and will reply on the post, and via email directly to you (if provided). Normal courtesy rules apply. Thanks for reading Teodoro Defensive Arts!- Nathan
BoxingScene.com has a thrilling account of Tommy Hearns vs. Roberto Duran that is gripping and so descriptive that you'll think you were there!
All things being subjective in the world of sports the knockout, quick and clean, ranks high up among the most thrilling moments in athletic competition. And when a spine tingling one-punch knockout happens between two fighters at the highest level of the profession nothing, not even a major league pitcher closing in on a perfect game is so shockingly dramatic. Such a thing happened on the night of June 15, 1984 at Caesars Palace on a hot evening in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Right from the opening bell the disparity in size became alarmingly apparent. Hearns towered over Duran and his left jab, snapping out from his hip, kept the Panamanian off balance. Hearns began pushing the smaller Duran around the ring, targeting his belly with the jab and coming over the top with booming right hands. Duran, rarely cut, began to bleed over his left eye and started to paw at the wound with his glove. Then, coming off the ropes, Hearns again jabbed to the chest and fired a right hand over the top dropping Duran on the seat of his trunks.
Any arguments about this? There have been a bunch of great knockouts over the years - share yours in the Comments. And read the whole thing.Duran, seemingly more surprised than hurt, jumped up and took the mandatory eight count. Hearns charged across the ring and pummeled Roberto, nearly knocking him out of the ring before depositing him on the canvas again with a left hook to the body. Duran beat the count at the bell and Hearns, in a measure of respect, extended his left glove to the woozy fighter. Duran touched gloves and then wandered off to the wrong corner.
The inevitability of what was to come hung in the air but the crowd at the outdoor arena at Caesars Palace seemed as dazed as to what was happening as Duran. Hearns, now oozing confidence, approached center ring and again touched gloves with Duran. It would be the last civil thing he did. Gliding around the ring and looking like a demented, black vampire with his goatee and Jeri curls, the “Hitman”, he had reassumed the moniker for the fight, went in for the kill.
Pushing Duran backwards he leapt in and clobbered the cowering fighter with a vicious right hand that staggered Duran back into the ropes again. Hearns bounced backwards and then jumped in again with another vicious right hand and began pummeling his prey with a series of punches that kept Duran standing straight up. Roberto tried to move off the ropes, so Hearns lured him out and then pushed him back with two probing left jabs to the chest before dropping the coup de grace.
The final right hand that crashed over Duran’s guard was so brutal, the impact twisted his head to the side and sucked all the air out of the arena. A collective gasp went up as Roberto Duran fell face forward to the canvas. There would be no count. Duran’s corner men jumped into the ring as Hearns leapt onto the shoulders of his handlers. It was the most dramatic knockout of Thomas Hearns’ career and upped the ante for his potential challenge of Marvin Hagler for the middleweight championship.
An insightful FightingArts.com article on "the old days." I remember back when we first 
started training, and we had to first build the dojo, then the instructor. But I heard once, from one of my seniors, that when he started, they didn't even have feet for kicking, and hands, let me tell you...
In seriousness, having started in the 70s, and going through so many fads, trends, and styles through the years, there has always been a nostalgia for those old days, and old masters, back before visions of riches created so many grandmasters on the flights back from Korea. I think many of us yearn for a purity in a lot of ways, from wanting to go back to the simplicity of life in a small town, the simpler times of forty or fifty years ago. I have always wondered at the stories of the turn of the century in Okinawa and Japan, of the martial arts in China and Korea before gunpowder. Read this brief article, "Kinjo Kensei & Old Style Karate Training."
